Chelsea offer Bamford new deal - report

Hiding behind the Times' paywallis the EXCLUSIVE news that Chelsea have offered Patrick Bamford a new contract this summer. Not preparing or planning to offer; an actual deal is apparently on the table. This news is both welcome and entirely unexpected -- Bamford's current deal, signed in January 2011, expires next summer, and even if he wasn't reigning Championship Player of the Year he's performed well enough since joining from Nottingham Forest that the Blues would do well to keep him around.

At this point there are more than a few Premier League sides (the Times mention Everton, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace) interested in taking Bamford on on a permanent basis. He's shown that he's more than likely good enough to contribute in the top flight, and with 12 months left on his contract any transfer rumours would give him plenty of leverage for wage negotiations with Chelsea. But we know all of that, and presumably have a reasonable offer on the table.

Whether it works or not we'll soon find out!